Challenges in life are inevitable. At some point or another, you will go through something difficult that requires you to build resilience and mental strength to push through.
What is the difference between an individual who succumbs to suffering from unfortunate events and an individual who faces them head-on and grows from it? It comes down to their mindset.
In the following sections, you will discover the strategies individuals with a positive mindset use to overcome adversity and build resilience.
Shift Your Perspective
Those with a positive mindset continuously practice shifting their perspectives during hard times. During unfortunate circumstances, the average individual may have thoughts of:
- “I hate this; why is this happening to me?”
- “I have no idea how this is going to work out.”
- “This sucks. I wish my life were different.”
Whereas an individual who has a positive mindset will have thoughts of:
- “I do not understand why this is happening, but I’ll get through it.”
- “I am going to find a way to make everything work out.”
- “Although this is hard, I know I will grow immensely from it.”
You can see the distinct difference between these two thought patterns. One of these thought patterns gives up on life’s hardships, whereas the more positive thought patterns accept what is happening and understand that they can build something better from it.
Those who have a positive mindset are not void of negative thoughts.
Those with a positive mindset also have thoughts that surround discouragement and worry; however, they choose to switch their thinking. To switch your thinking, you need to change your perspective.
Changing your perspective is a skill.
Changing your perspective is a skill that needs to be practiced regularly to build resilience. As you repeat the process of switching your perspective and having the corresponding thoughts align, your mind gets used to it, and it becomes more automatic. The neural pathways in the brain associated with positivity become strengthened as you continue to do this over time.
If you want to cultivate a positive mindset that will help you get through tough times in life, begin practicing the skill of perspective shifts.
How to change your mindset from negative to positive
Those who do not have a positive mindset usually allow themselves to worry about things that are out of their control. Those who have developed a positive mindset understand that it is important to focus solely on what you can control.
Ask what you have control over
When facing a difficult situation, instead of flooding your mind with reasons to worry, be discouraged, and feel unsatisfied with life, pause and think, “What do you genuinely have control over?”
One other thing you realize when you ask yourself what you have control over is that you end up seeing all the steps you can take right now to relieve yourself of some of your life stressors.
Think about it this way:
- If you are worried about something that you cannot control, let go of the worry.
- If you are worried about something that you can control, then begin taking the steps in real-time to solve that issue. It is as simple as that.
Those who have mastered a positive mindset do not waste time harping on issues they have no control over. These individuals also do not let life’s struggles immobilize them; instead, they do what they can to get through the hardship proactively.
Building Resilience Through Positive Self-Talk
How you speak to yourself affects your self-esteem, motivation, and ability to have hope through any unfortunate circumstances you face.
The more you speak poorly to yourself, the quicker you are to give up, self-sabotage, and continue a cycle of misery. The more you talk nicely to yourself, the higher the probability that you will overcome challenges, build your self-esteem, and build resilience from hardships.
Begin to become self-aware of the way you speak to yourself in your mind throughout the day. Try to refrain from talking down on yourself and make it a rule of thumb that if you would not speak to your own friend that way, then do not speak to yourself that way. This awareness is a key strategy in building resilience and is foundational for developing a positive mindset.
Cultivating positive self-talk and treating yourself with some compassion will allow you to build more mental resilience when it comes to getting through future challenges.
Practice positive self-talk
Practicing positive self-talk involves being mindful of your inner dialogue and intentionally replacing negative thoughts with encouraging and supportive ones.
Practice regularly to make positive self-talk a habit. People with a positive mindset speak nicely to themselves instead of degrading themselves.
How to stop negative self-talk
If you want to develop a more positive mindset that will help you overcome life’s hardships, you must change the way you speak to yourself.
Start by noticing when you engage in negative self-talk, such as harsh criticism or self-doubt. Challenge these thoughts by asking whether they are true or helpful. Replace them with affirmations or positive statements, such as "I am capable" or "I can handle this." Over time, this shift in thinking can reduce stress, boost confidence, and improve overall mental well-being.
Transform Your Mindset to Build Resilience
Getting through life’s struggles is hard and painful, and sometimes can leave you feeling extremely discouraged. However, building resilience is crucial in navigating these challenges. Although life’s obstacles can feel overwhelming, developing a more positive mindset can empower you to overcome obstacles.
Learn how to shift your perspective, begin solely focusing on what you can control, and start engaging in positive self-talk that brings you up and makes you feel good.
These key practices will help you transform your mind, making you more resilient than ever.
